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2012 R1200RT clutch vs brake res color

Greetings all.
There I was enjoying a nice ride on my RT when I noticed what a wonderful color of amber my brake fluid made in the resiviour. Then I looked over at my clutch res and it looked black. Momentary panic as usually black brake fluid is bad news, but then I recalled that the clutch uses mineral oil and perhaps has a darker tinted resiviour. But dang me I cannot remember. Find it hard to believe a master going South at almost 4000 miles so I am hoping someone out there with an RT can go look at their's and get back to me.
Thanks
Will

1. The clutch fluid recommended is Vitamol V10. The fluid in the reservoir turns black/brown because it's exposed to sunlight which causes over time to breakdown and discolour.

2. DOT 4 Brake Fluid. The DOT 4 shouldn't damage your seals if used in the clutch system! But is not recommended. Normally any damage is usually caused by dirt and debris getting pulled into the seals as the clutch pistons stroke in and out. Again, the dis-coloration is caused (theory only) by sunlight and moisture getting into the fluid.

DOT 4 Brake Fluid. The DOT 4 shouldn't damage your seals if used in the clutch system. Normally any damage is usually caused by dirt and debris getting pulled into the seals as the clutch pistons stroke in and out

Second, mineral oil is not significantly hygroscopic, unlike brake fluid -- one of the primary reason BMW switched from brake fluid to mineral oil in the clutch circuit (which doesn't see the temps brake fluid can potentially see). The lack of significant hygroscopic concerns is why the clutch does not have a change interval like the brake systems.

Third, I also have a 2012 R12RT, and without backlight, the clutch reservoir looks much darker than the brake reservoir -- but with a flashlight at the back of the reservoir, the fluid is green and not cloudy (color affected by the yellow plastic reservoir; IIRC, the mineral oil is a fairly deep blue (blue+yellow=green).

I'd suggest checking with a flash light to see whether you have any real problem -- unlikely on such a new bike.

Just to reiterate, DOT 4 in the clutch system designed for mineral oil will destroy the seals, invade the bell housing, foul the clutch a maybe destroy the transmission input shaft seal.

The converse is also true - mineral oil in a clutch system designed for DOT 4 will destroy the seals and foul the clutch. It won't damage the input shaft seal which is already exposed to petroleum in the transmission. But by then you won't care.

At a shop, something north of $2,500 to clean up this little mistake.

Don't do it.

Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." - Bertrand Russellhttp://web.bigbend.net/~glaves/

Color was the question

Hey fellow enthusists
I never contemplated adding inappropriate fluids to my brake or clutch systems. Only an ignoramus would consider such. I just wanted to confirm the clutch resiviour was darker in color than the brake res.
Thanks for the responses!

On my 12 R1200R the brake fluid was almost brown when I bought the bike. Its now almost clear yellow. I think from the sun. I can't see the clutch fluid in the reservoir. It is full.

Subject drift... if your clutch reservoir is full you may need to remove a bit of fluid. The level rises as the clutch wears. Rising above the MAX mark is not a good thing. I find I have to remove a small bit of fluid about every other service.

I follow the Tom Cutter method:

Just twist up a Bounty Paper towel (the Quicker Picker Upper) and use the twisted towel to absorb up a little fluid. It is tidy and economical. Be sure to select a towel pattern that will not clash with your paint job or wardrobe. In the Summer, I prefer light, fun colors.

Hey fellow enthusists
I never contemplated adding inappropriate fluids to my brake or clutch systems. Only an ignoramus would consider such. I just wanted to confirm the clutch resiviour was darker in color than the brake res.
Thanks for the responses!

No you didn't. But a poster, in response to your question, explicitly stated that such would be OK. My response was to protect any readers, or future readers who find this thread in the interwebland maze from making a $2,500 mistake. I often let misinformation pass, but not when it involves personal safety or as in this case, big dollars.

Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." - Bertrand Russellhttp://web.bigbend.net/~glaves/